Designs

• Before ordering or downloading a design, you need to know what type of files your machine can actually display and use. Designs are created by a technique called digitizing. There are particular file extension names that apply to the different brands of machine.
• For example, the design called elephant.pes would be for a Brother, because Brother uses the file extension .pes  If you are not sure what file extension you can use, refer to your machine manual or the list below.

When you download your design file, the information files you need will be included within the zipped file. Embroidery designs usually just have a color chart and design information such as stitch count and stitch out size, while projects will come with more comprehensive directions.

The color charts and any other included directions can come in different file types or formats. The file extension (the last three letters of the file name eg. .txt) indicate the file type and determine which program you will need to open and view the file.

Simple text instructions may come in a .txt file which you can click on to open on any computer. More comprehensive and detailed instructions that include pictures or patterns will come in .doc or .pdf format. You will need to view .doc files in Microsoft Word or an alternative open source software like Open Office or Kingsoft and .pdf files in Adobe Reader.

If you have opened your download file in your embroidery software program and you are not seeing the design information files, it may be because they are in a format your embroidery program can’t read or doesn’t recognize. Make sure you view the contents of your download file outside of your embroidery program initially, so you can see the full set of files included.

Always follow the color chart supplied by the digitizer, rather than the color sequence of your embroidery design file.

When you open a design file in an embroidery software that is different from the one used for the original digitizing, the colors in the design may look rather unusual, and not like the original image displayed on our website. This is because designs are created in many different embroidery programs and when designs are converted from one format to another, the thread colors are not always compatible. If an embroidery program doesn’t recognize a thread color, it will assign a default color that may be very different. For this reason the digitizer will include a color chart with the designs.

It is always recommended you follow the color chart included with the design, rather than the colors your embroidery program may display.

Sometimes color charts are brand specific and refer to the particular brand of embroidery thread the designer used. You may of course use a different brand of embroidery thread. If you want to convert the color exactly from one brand to another using the thread color codes, you can use a thread conversion chart, or a program like Easy Threads.

Many of the latest color charts include a description of the color, or color swatches you can use as a guideline instead of a specific color code relating to a particular thread brand. This makes it easier for you to choose a matching color from your own thread collection, without having to worry about converting codes from one thread brand to another.

All embroidery machines have limitations, so when you are shopping for designs, keep in mind your particular machine’s embroidery area and stitch count limit. Refer to your machine’s user manual or the company that manufactured the machine if you need to confirm the specifications.

If you order a design larger than your machine can read, your machine will not display the design, or it may generate an error message.

The number of stitches in a design will be included in the information file you download with your designs, or displayed on the site if the designer has supplied it. If you would like these details prior to ordering, just let us know the exact name of the design so we can check the details for you.

The hoop size is shown next to the Add to Cart button for each design set.

This is the minimum hoop size required to provide the sewing field necessary to accommodate the largest design in that set. The hoop size may not indicate actual stitch out size, as there could be a range of sizes within the set.

If no hoop size is shown, or you would like to know exact stitch out sizes, please contact us with name of the set so we can check the details for you.

Our Dollar Designs are all for the 4×4” hoop unless they are marked with an *. The asterix means they require a larger hoop size.

Our designs are only available as sets, unless they are displayed on the page as singles. Sorry but we are unable to split the sets.

All our Singles Designs are visible in the Categories menu.

Single Designs can also be found by using a filter button on the Categories display. This will only show if there are Single Designs available in that category.

Our images are all copyrighted and we do protect our designers work from internet piracy and theft. If you would like to copy the pictures of the designs you have purchased from us to use for a guide when sewing out your designs or for your personal records, please contact us so we can assist you.

Just use the Contact Us link (at the bottom of any page on our site) to send us an email with your design query.

Include the name of the design store, the name of the set, your order number if applicable and any other relevant details we will ask the designer to contact you.

You may use designs on any sewn items for yourself or that are distributed as gifts. You can also use the designs on items for resale, as long as you make them yourself as part of a home business and they are not made or sold on a large commercial scale (mass-produced).

Some designs have a limit to the number of sewn items that can be sold – please refer to the copyright file that is included with each design set downloaded, as our different designers may have specific regulations for those designs.

All of our designs are digitized designs which can be downloaded to your computer for transfer to an embroidery sewing machine so they can be stitched out.

We don’t supply finished patches, projects, or patterns for hand embroidery.